FLORENCE, KY – Winners Circle Racing Stable’s Queen of God rallied from off the pace to clinch Saturday’s $150,000 Maxim Crane Works Bourbonette Oaks at Turfway Park.
Breaking from post 3 at 6/1 odds under Irad Ortiz, Jr., Queen of God crossed over to the rail by the time she reached the clubhouse turn and settled in a stalking position. Up front, Swanage narrowly led the 4/5 favorite Laura’s Light through opening fractions of :23.91 and :47.64 before the bettors’ choice advanced heading into the far turn.
Tipped off to go around the fading pacesetter, Queen of God kept tipping at the top of the stretch and commenced a bid from the middle of the track. Taking the lead just before the 1/16 pole, Queen of God ran a bit erratically at times but still had more than enough left to finish the job.
Trained by Mike Maker, Queen of God crossed 3/4 of a length ahead in a final time of 1:37.77 for the mile-long event over the fast synthetic track.
“I got a perfect trip, I can’t complain,” said Ortiz, Jr. “She broke good, put me in a perfect spot. I was waiting, and when I asked her, she responded for me. I changed (my whip) to the right hand and she kind of got out, so I just put the stick away.”
Pass the Plate came rallying from well off the pace to take second 1 1/2 lengths over Impeccable Style. Laura’s Light faltered in the stretch, barely necking out Las Ramblas for fourth.
Kay Bee Gee, Baby Karats, Oxum Power, A Wicked Wildcat, Swanage, and Fashion Code completed the order of finish. Mama’s Grey Ghost and Secretly Wicked were scratched.
The Bourbonette Oaks is part of the Road to the 2020 Kentucky Oaks prep race season. Queen of God earned 20 points for the win, with Pass the Plate receiving 8 for second, Impeccable Style 4 for third, and Laura’s Light 2 for fourth.
Queen of God’s win was her second straight following the mile-long Mrs. Presidentress Stakes over the Gulfstream Park turf. The 3-year-old daughter of Paynter now sports a record of 7-4-0-0 with $161,284 earned.
“She was in a great position to win,” Maker said. “This was her first race on Polytrack. Very pleased with result. She’s a very game, aggressive filly.”
Queen of God returned $15.60 to win, $5.60 to place, and $4.20 to show. Pass the Plate brought back $4.60 to place and $3.40 to show, while Impeccable Style paid $3.80 to show.
